Location for Filters, Regulators, etc. on my air compressor system.

[whejdak]

Yesterday I came across a statement, for the first time, about where the filter should be located. I just purchased a FRL for my system and was looking where to insert it into the system. This guy said to make sure that it is installed several feet away from the compressor, like 50 feet. Why would that be?
I have a 1/2 inch air line on my system now, and was going to eliminate it. It's hard connected to the tank. Now I'm not sure what to do.

 

[Mikes61]

My filter/water separator is attached to my 80 gallon compressor. I have no problems with moisture coming out of my air hose.

If I’m going to be spraying car paint, my spray gun has an additional filter/water separator on it. I also have a dedicated hose for spraying.

Im sure you’re fine with it attached to your compressor. Try it and monitor if you have any moisture.

 

[whejdak]

I did a little more digging. This guy said that the hose was needed to make sure the air coming out wasn't hot. Because hot air going into a filter will not yield water. So having the long hose allows the air to cool first then it gets filtered?
I can see where he's coming from, but I don't know if this is really true.

 

[MongoTA]

I did a little more digging. This guy said that the hose was needed to make sure the air coming out wasn't hot. Because hot air going into a filter will not yield water. So having the long hose allows the air to cool first then it gets filtered?
I can see where he's coming from, but I don't know if this is really true.

The higher the temperature of the air, the greater its capacity to hold moisture. As the air cools, held moisture will condense out making it easier for it to be captured by the filter.

If space is at a premium consider plumbing in an aftercooler. It can by DIY (a zig-zag of copper pipe for example) or something like a Derale 15300 to help cool the air and to encourage held moisture to condense. Add a drop and a purge valve to physically remove the condensate from the line, then your filter comes afterwards.

You'd want to pitch the system as needed for drainage.

If you use your compressor a little bit here and a little bit there, the temp of the compressed air from the occasionally running compressor will generally not get as high as if the compressor was running more continually when it's feeding a tool with a higher CFM requirement.

Some tools/applications water can be bad for; spraying paint, using a plasma cutter, etc. Others like powering a die grinder, not as bad.

 

[larry_g]

I sure hope that you remove the lubricator from your unit. A lubricator only belongs on the input to a machine that requires lubricated air. In the home shop I have no regulator or filter in the system. If needed I have a regulator on quick connects that I can install at point of use. You will find that the piping system can generate as much debris as the pump.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[welder4956]

I did a little more digging. This guy said that the hose was needed to make sure the air coming out wasn't hot. Because hot air going into a filter will not yield water. So having the long hose allows the air to cool first then it gets filtered?
I can see where he's coming from, but I don't know if this is really true.

50 feet is usually not practical for a home use compressor, but not a big problem for industrial or commercial use. I can see the need for it if you are spraying paint, but not for general use with air tools or filling tires. If you really need dry air, get a refrigerated air dryer.

 

[welder4956]

I don't spray paint with mine and have the regulator/filter located about 2 ft from the tank. I have never had an issue with visible moisture in the line during use. I do occasionally drain each drop to an outlet and sometimes get a small amount of condensation.

 

[whejdak]

Great pictures, thanks
I wrote FRL but really only FR. Not getting the lubricator. I got caught up in the terminology.
50 feet of industrial hosing came with the compressor. I bought it from someone who most likely got it an auction or the like. Few things were missing and the motor was bad. Paid $300 for it. This sucker is heavy. I have a Kubota BX23S with a FEL and it can't lift the Compressor but a few inches off of the ground. Looking for the idea spot to place in my pole barn.

 

[BillK]

Yesterday I came across a statement, for the first time, about where the filter should be located. I just purchased a FRL for my system and was looking where to insert it into the system. This guy said to make sure that it is installed several feet away from the compressor, like 50 feet. Why would that be?
I have a 1/2 inch air line on my system now, and was going to eliminate it. It's hard connected to the tank. Now I'm not sure what to do.

How big of a shop are we talking about ? What the guy told you is absolutely true. I have one outlet within about 5 ft of my compressor and rarely get any moisture out of it but the one that is about 40 ft away will fill up the water separator very quickly even with moderate use.

 

[whejdak]

BillK, then what you are saying is that the air 5 feet away must be hot or warm and not giving up any moisture. But, 40 feet away there is a lot of water, so it must be because the air cooled down and is giving up the moisture.
I wonder if the directions will say something about location when I get it. So find out.

 

[scooby074]

The further you are away from the compressor, the cooler the air is. Cool air will naturally drop water vs hot air. Have your filter regulator mounted at the end of any rigid pipe and as close to point of use for the most effective filtration.

 

[The Cobbler]

I have a few 50' coils of 5/8 soft copper ... one day I will get around to installing one on my set up to cool the air. my plan is to orient the coil horizontal with the inlet high & the outlet low , so the hotter air is at the top, as it decends in gets cooler & the water will drop out to a drain at the bottom. may even install a fan that cycles with the compressor.
man, I have a lot of projects to get at /

 

[johnre]

One other factor here - a combination filter / regulator doesn't do well with vibration; it should be mounted separately from the compressor through a flex line.

 

[mm08822]

You could also make a poor man's heat exchanger. Buy a coil of 1/2" copper tubing and place it into a 5 or 15 gallon container of water. Solder threaded ends onto each end. Put hose quick connects on each fitting. The water will drop the air temp and your separator will work better. Also add an automated drain to the separator or at the bottom of a drip leg.

 

[whejdak]

I love this site.
Great information and ideas.
Once again, thanks all .

 

[bad_idea]

I don't spray paint with mine and have the regulator/filter located about 2 ft from the tank. I have never had an issue with visible moisture in the line during use. I do occasionally drain each drop to an outlet and sometimes get a small amount of condensation.

I would rotate the piping at the compressor and the filter assembly to have the bend in the hose up, rather than down. As it sits, you have a low spot for water to collect. Minor concern, but also very easy to fix.

 

[niget2002]

I just used a piece of C channel to mount mine to the front of the compressor. I do have a somewhat large hose coming out of the tank and drooping down before going up to the filter/regulator assembly.






When I spray paint, I have a second filter that I mount inside the paint booth. Most everything else I use doesn't require the pump to run continuously.

 

[FTG-05]

Plumb in an aftercooler. In my case, I used a 120-gallon horizontal air tank I converted to vertical. You can see the filter on the upstream side of the manifold: